Zoysiagrass plant &#34;TMX&#34;

ABSTRACT

The present culivar TMX ( Zoysia matrella  Merr.) advantageously has a very slow growing rate in terms of plant height as compared with existing cultivars and requires mowing not more than once a year so as to be maintained in fair condition and allows the amount of fertilizer to be reduced. It also has a high-level of shade tolerance.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The present invention relates to the species Zoysia matrella Merr.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

“TMX.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofZoysiagrass asexually reproduced and selected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Zoysiagrass cultivar(Zoysia matrella Merr.) named “TMX.”

Zoysiagrass is a popular lawn grass which has been widely used asgreening turf. The turf thereof, however, should be mown 3 to 5 timesper year so as to be maintained in beautiful condition. Since the newlydeveloped TMX advantageously has a very slow growing rate in terms ofplant height as compared with conventional cultivars, mowing is requirednot more than once a year to maintain fair condition and the amount offertilizer can be reduced to almost less than half. Therefore, laborsand cost necessary for maintenance of the turf as well as clipping fromlawn-mowing can be reduced. Furthermore, the cultivar can be readilygrown in a place where a lawnmower cannot be conveniently used, such ason a rooftop of a building. In addition, TMX has superior shadetolerance to that of a conventional cultivar, and thus can be raisedeven in a place with insufficient sunlight exposure.

In addition, it is expected that prevalence of TMX facilitates greeningof the rooftop and schoolyard and leads to alleviation of heat islandphenomenon and reduction of the amount of CO₂.

For purposes of registration under the “International Convention for theProtection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its Frenchacronym as the UPOV Convention) and noting sections 1612 of the Manualof Patent Examining Procedure, it is proposed that the new variety ofZoysiagrass of the present invention be named “TMX.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 is a set of photographs comparing spikestems of control cultivarsand the present cultivar (TMX) (Left: Emerald; Middle: TM9; Right: TMX).Photographed on May 22, 2006 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 2 is a set of photographs comparing grass shapes of controlcultivars and the present cultivar (TMX) (Upper: Emerald; Middle: TM9;Lower: TMX). Photographed on May 12, 2006 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi,Japan.

FIG. 3 is a set of photographs comparing stolons of control cultivarsand the present cultivar (TMX) (Upper: Emerald; Middle: TM9; Lower:TMX). Photographed on October 20, 2005 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing a full view of test field for the presentcultivar (TMX) ((1): Individually planted plot of Emerald; (2):Individually planted plot of TM9; (3); Individually planted plot ofTMX). Photographed on September 25, 2006 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 5 is a set of photographs comparing control cultivars and thepresent cultivar (TMX) in terms of plant vigor in fall (Upper: Emerald;Middle: TM9; Lower: TMX). Photographed on November 13, 2006 inNishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 6 is a photograph showing culture of control cultivars and thepresent cultivar (TMX) in a shade tolerance test with the use of alight-shading net. Photographed on September 7, 2006 in Nishikamo-gun,Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relative amounts of growth with 75% lightshielding in a shade tolerance test (light shielding/untreated plots).

FIG. 8 is a set of photographs comparing grass shapes after culture in ashade tolerance test (Panel (1): untreated plots; Panel (2): lightshielding plots) (Left: Emerald; Middle: TM9; Right: TMX in Panels (1)and (2)). Photographed on September 7, 2006 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi,Japan.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

1. Characteristics of the Plant Body of the Present Invention

-   1) Overview

Seeds (50,000 seeds) of a lawn cultivar “TM9” (Zoysia matrella Merr.)were seeded (June 2003), 70 individuals exhibiting short plant height aspot seedlings were selected from the germinated individuals (in the year2003), and 6 individuals were selected from among these seedlings basedon their growing properties as a pot seedling (in the year 2004). Theywere planted in a field and an outdoor cultivation test was initiated(in the year 2005). The present cultivar was obtained after completionof cultivation tests in various locations throughout Japan (completed inthe year 2006). Characteristics of the present cultivar are as follows:extremely creeping plant form; spikestem of medium-sized thickness andshort length; dense stolons of medium-sized thickness; leaves of veryshort length, very narrow leaf width, and a mild leaf color; short spikelength and thick spike color; medium spikelet length, narrow spikeletwidth, and a small number of spikelets; moderate initial growth;moderate plant vigor in spring and good plant vigor in fall; medium (notearly nor late) timing in spike-sprouting; spike-sprouting only inspring with a medium number of spikes; medium (not early nor late)timing in turning green; medium (not early nor late) timing in turningred; medium winter hardiness; good summer tolerance; strong shadetolerance; medium drought tolerance; medium salinity tolerance; andmedium tread pressure resistance.

2) Comparison with Control Cultivars (Table 1) TABLE 1 Present cultivarControl cultivar Item Trait TMX Emerald TM9 1 Height Height of Low HighMiddle mature plant (2.0 cm) (14.0 cm) (5.7 cm) 2 Plant Plant ExtremelyIntermediate Creeping creeping 3 Stem Thickness of Medium Medium Mediumspikestem (0.7 mm) (0.7 mm) (0.7 mm) Length of Short (2 cm) Medium Short(2 cm) spikestem (5 cm) 4 Stolon Density of Dense Dense Extremelystolons dense Thickness of Medium Medium Medium stolon (1.0 mm) (1.1 mm)(1.1 mm) 5 Foliage Leaf length Extremely Short (8 cm) Extremely shortshort to short (1 cm) (4 cm) Leaf width Extremely Narrow Narrow narrow(1.6 mm) (1.8 mm) (1.2 mm) Leaf color 141C: Strong 144A: 137A: yellowishYellow green group green group green group 6 Spike Spike length ShortShort Short (12 mm) (17 mm) (14 mm) Spike color 183A: 183A: 183A: GrayedGrayed Grayed purple group purple group purple group Spikelet MediumMedium Medium length (2.7 mm) (3.2 mm) (2.8 mm) Spikelet Narrow MediumMedium width (0.8 mm) (1.2 mm) (1.1 mm) Number of Few (17) Few (16) Few(17) spikelet 7 Initial Initial Medium Medium Medium growth growth 8Plant Plant vigor Moderate Moderate Moderate vigor in spring Plant vigorGood Good Good in fall 9 Spike- Beginning of Medium Medium Mediumsprouting spike- (not early (not early (not early time sprouting norlate) nor late) nor late) 10 Spike- Spike- Spike- Spike- Spike-sprouting sprouting sprouting sprouting sprouting properties inspring/fall only only only in spring in spring in spring Number ofMedium Medium Many spikes 11 Growing Timing to Medium Medium Mediumperiod turn green (not early (not early (not early nor late) nor late)nor late) Timing to Medium Medium Medium turn red (not early (not early(not early nor late) nor late) nor late) 12 Winter Good/Bad in MediumMedium Medium hardiness winter hardiness 13 Summer Good/Bad in Good GoodGood tolerance summer tolerance 14 Environ- Shade Strong Medium Mediummental tolerance Medium Medium Medium tolerance Drought toleranceSalinity Medium Medium Medium tolerance 15 Tread Tread Medium MediumMedium pressure pressure resistance resistanceColors are based on the RHS color chart.

-   3) Other Characteristics of the Plant Body of the Present Invention

Length of internode: 18 mm

Diameter of internode: 1.0 mm

Blade villus: Hairs absent on adaxial and abaxial leaf surface

Ligule hair: 0.1 mm in length, continuously

Color of anther: 183D grayed purple group

Color of stigma: 8C reverse yellow group

Average number of florets per raceme: 17

Total length of culm up to the node immediately below the flag leaf(including the flower portion): 1.4 cm

Length of stalk of inflorescence: 0.7 cm

Length of flower portion: 1.2 cm

Color of mature spikelet: 161D grayed yellow green group

Color of stolon: 60B red purple group and 144D yellow group

-   4) Sensitivity to Diseases or Insect Pests

TMX did not exhibit sensitivity to diseases or insect pests that aregenerally found in plants of the Zoysia genus over 21 months startingfrom April in 2005 in Japan.

-   * Notes:

Type of plant: lawn

Name of the applied cultivar: TMX

Cultivator: Kunio Matsui

Address of the applicant: 1 Toyota-Cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi, Japan

Cultivation site: Nishikamo-gun, Toyota-shi, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137° 05′ 59″)

Place where characteristics research was conducted: Nishikamo-gun,Toyota-shi, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N 35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137° 05′59″)

Name of researcher who conducted characteristics research: Kunio Matsui

Period when characteristics research was conducted: 2005-2006

Control cultivar (most approximate cultivar): TM9

-   5) Characteristics by which the Present Cultivar is Distinguished    from the Control Cultivars-    a) Control cultivars

Emerald

TM9

-    b) Distinguishing characteristics

The present cultivar can be distinguished from Emerald in that thepresent cultivar has a low height (2.0 cm) (whereas Emerald has a highheight (14.0 cm)); an extremely creeping plant form (whereas Emerald hasan intermediate plant form); short-length spikestems (2 cm) (whereasEmerald has medium-length spikestems (5 cm)); very short leaves (1 cm)(whereas Emerald has short leaves (8 cm)); an extremely narrow leafwidth (1.2 mm) (whereas Emerald has a narrow leaf width (1.6 mm)); astrong yellowish green leaf color (141C) (whereas Emerald has a yellowgreen leaf color (144A)); a narrow spikelet width (0.8 mm) (whereasEmerald has a medium spikelet width (1.2 mm)); and a strong shadetolerance (whereas Emerald has a medium shade tolerance).

The present cultivar can be distinguished from TM9 in that the presentcultivar has a low height (2.0 cm) (whereas TM9 has a medium height (5.7cm)); an extremely creeping plant form (whereas TM9 has a creeping plantform); dense stolons (whereas TM9 has extremely dense stolons); veryshort leaves (1 cm) (whereas TM9 has short to extremely short leaves (4cm)); an extremely narrow leaf width (1.2 mm) (whereas TM9 has a narrowleaf width (1.8 mm));a strong yellowish green leaf color (141C) (whereasTM9 has a green leaf color (137A)); a narrow spikelet width (0.8 mm)(whereas TM9 has a medium spikelet width (1.1 mm)); a medium number ofspikes (whereas TM9 has a large number of spikes); and a strong shadetolerance (whereas TM9 has a moderate shade tolerance).

-   6) Cultivation Conditions for Characteristic Research Experiment of    Above 1) to 5)-    a Cultivation site: Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N 35°    08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137° 05′ 59″)-    b Cultivation time and period: 21 months from April, 2005-    c Cultivation method (Examples: cultivation style such as on bare    ground, in a facility, field planting or pot planting, cultivation    scale, etc.)

Pot seedlings reproduced by cutting rootstocks and stolons and plantingthem in soil were raised in greenhouse for two months and fix planted onbare ground in April along with control cultivars in order to perform acharacteristic research experiment. Five individuals (triplicates) werefix planted at a density of one seedling per an area of 200 cm×200 cm inan individually planted plot while they were fix planted in triplicatesat a density of one seedling per an area of 15 cm×15 cm in a denseplated test plot having an area of 150 cm×150 cm thereby performing acharacteristic research experiment.

-   7) Shade Tolerance Test-    a) Test method

Three pot seedlings (pot size: φ 12 cm) of each of Emerald, TM9, and TMXwere raised under 75% light shielding with a light-shading net forapproximately 2 months from July 6 to September 7 in 2007 inNishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N 35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137°05′ 59″) (FIG. 6). In addition, three pot seedlings of each of the abovecultivars were raised under conditions without the use of alight-shielding net (untreated plot). The aerial portions of eachcultivar were mowed. Then, the mean value of the weights of the mowedparts of three pot seedlings that had been raised while covered with alight-shading net was divided by a mean value of the weights of themowed parts of three pot seedlings in the untreated plot. Thus, therelative amount of growth was calculated.

-    b) Results

The seedlings of Emerald and TM9 that had been raised with lightshielding grew to an extent comparable to that of those in the untreatedplot. Meanwhile, the amount of growth of the seedlings of TMX that hadbeen raised with light shielding was approximately 1.6 times greaterthan that of those in the untreated plot (FIG. 7). In addition, the leaflength became longer in the case of every cultivar raised with lightshielding. However, no abnormalities in leaves or the like were found(FIG. 8).

Accordingly, the shade tolerance of TMX was likely to be stronger thanthat of Emerald and of TM9.

2. Reproduction Method

Vegetative propagation: rootstocks, stolons, tillers, and turf

3. Conditions of Keeping and Storage the Plant having IdentifiableCharacteristics

Place where the plant is maintained and/or stored: Nishikamo-gun, Aichi,Japan (Latitude: N 35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137° 05′ 59″)

Method of maintenance/storage: pot planting and ground planting

4. History of Cultivating the Present Cultivar

-   1) Material of New Cultivar

Mother: TM9 (Zoysia matrella Merr.)

Father

Family tree

-   2) Cultivation Site

Nishikamo-gun in Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N 35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E137° 05′ 59″)

-   3) History of Cultivating the Cultivar

Self-fertile seeds of TM9 were seeded in June, 2003, and individualsexhibiting short plant height as pot seedlings were selected from thegerminated individuals. The thus selected lines were reproduced by rootseparation in April 2004 and the uniformity of these vegetativepropagated lines was respectively confirmed in greenhouse by January,2005. Newly root separated lines (January 2005) were fix planted in afield in April 2005. A line exhibiting a short leaf length and asatisfactory initial growth was selected and the stability thereof wasconfirmed to complete the cultivating of the new cultivar on December28, 2006.

5. Main Use of the Present Cultivar

The present cultivar can be used for ground covering of a park, garden,etc.

6. Other Items in Relation to the Cultivation of the Present Cultivar

-   1) Applicable Area

Warm area

-   2) Specific Cultivation Site in Japan-   Address (Zip code: 470-0201):

1099 Kurozasa-Marune, Miyoshi-machi, Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan(Latitude: N 35° 08′ 06″; Longitude: E 137° 05′ 59″)

Facility for travel: Meitetsu Toyoda line (Closest station:Miyoshigaoka)

-   3) Cultivation Style: Normal Cultivation. Bare Ground.-   Seasons suitable for seeding, planting, etc.

Other reproduction method: Vegetative propagation by stolons from thebeginning of April to the beginning of May/year round

-   Blooming season, harvest season, and any other seasons in    cultivation stage suitable for specifying characteristics of the    present cultivar:

Blooming season: from the beginning to the end of May /year round

Greening season: from the end of April to the end of October/year round

-   4) Other Items to be Mentioned for the Cultivation of the Present    Cultivar

The present cultivar is extremely creeping in plant form and short inleaf length, which allows weeds readily to grow. Frequent weeding istherefore required.

-   5) Information about the Cultivation Technique and Raising Condition    of the Present Cultivar is Available from the Below:-   Address (Zip code: 470-0201):

1099 Kurozasa-Marune, Miyoshi-machi, Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan

Name: Kunio Matsui (TEL 81-0561-36-8441)

7. Other Information

When the present cultivar is allowed freely to grow, the plant height(i.e. the height from the ground to the tip of the leaf blade) is asabout ¼ of that of Emerald and half of that of TM9.

1. A new and distinctive variety of Zoysia matrella Merr. plant namedTMX as illustrated and described in the present specification.